Scotland’s champion black pudding butchers are being invited to take part in the first-ever Black Pudding UK Champion of Champions competition.
The event will pitch champion independent craft butchers from both sides of the border in a head-to-head title race in London on 26 February 2025.
Staged by Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB), National Craft Butchers and Q Guild of Butchers, the competition at the capital’s Butchers’ Hall could become an annual or biennial battle. And it’s one that SCB executive manager Gordon King believes will represent the ultimate accolade for black pudding masters.
“Black Pudding competitions are always fiercely fought events among our butchers and the upcoming UK title will be the one they all want to win – especially as it’s the first ever champions’ showdown of its type,” said King, who explained that the competition would pit a range of very different black puddings against each other.
“Black pudding recipes vary from region to region, so we are sure to see a wide variety of products in the championship line-up,” he said. “Some recipes date back generations and are much loved by our butchers’ customers.”
Among those asked to compete are five reigning regional champions from the SCB’s national Black Pudding Championship.
This includes current Scottish Black Pudding Champion Nigel Ovens from Wemyss Bay, who has lifted the Scottish title an unprecedented four times with both his McCaskie and Pirie brands of the superfood.
“It’s very exciting to be pitched against other black pudding champions from throughout the UK,” said Ovens. “This will be a huge challenge as every area has their different interpretation of the product and everyone has their own favourite recipe.
“To have lifted the Scottish championship title so often shows we have a good black pudding, and I look forward to seeing how it does against its Scottish rivals and those from south of the Border.
“Being Scottish champion brings a wealth of positive exposure, acclaim and recognition but to be crowned UK Champion of Champions would be just fantastic.”
The event is sponsored by DB Foods and the winner will be announced on National Black Pudding Day – 18 March 2025.
